Peterborough United assistant manager is aiming for a repeat Posh performance

Peterborough United’s new assistant manager Mark Robson is hoping for a repeat performance at London Road.
Mark Robson (left) and Darren Ferguson celebrate a Posh promotion at Old Trafford in 2011.Mark Robson (left) and Darren Ferguson celebrate a Posh promotion at Old Trafford in 2011.
Mark Robson (left) and Darren Ferguson celebrate a Posh promotion at Old Trafford in 2011.

In the 51 year-old’s last spell as a coach at London Road between 2010-2012 he was heavily involved in a promotion from League One and a relatively successful season in the Championship.

That’s pretty much Posh’s ambition for the next couple of years so no wonder Robson was the first phone call first-team manager Darren Ferguson made when Gavin Strachan upgraded to Celtic.

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“It was a no-brainer of a decision for me when Darren made that call about a month ago,” Robson admitted.

Mark Robson at the Posh training ground this week.Mark Robson at the Posh training ground this week.
Mark Robson at the Posh training ground this week.

“I know the club, I know how Darren works and what he expects and as soon as I walked back into the place the memories came flooding back.

“The club was very successful when I was here before. We won promotion and then we stayed up in the Championship pretty comfortably so it was a special time in my career.

“The aim is the same now and I hope I can add something to the squad. I’m delighted to be back working with Darren who is a good bloke who knows his football.”

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Robson left Posh to fulfil an ambition to be a manager at Barnet, but for the last few years he’s been part of the successful England youth set-up which yielded a couple of World Cup wins for the Under 17s and the Under 20s as well as the first Euros success for 30 years with the under 19s.

“It’s been an invaluable expetrience working for England and a great honour,” Robson added. “I learnt so much and to be part of plenty of success was unbelievable. The youth coaches had a great relationship with England manager Gareth Southgate and it was just an enjoyable time.

“But you do miss the day-to-day training and the banter with players so I’m happy to be back in club football. I just love being back on the training ground.”

Robson is seen as a set-piece specialist and can be creative as well as detailed and methodical in his coaching.

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Ferguson said: “Mark was my number one choice. As soon as Gavin indicated he wanted to go to Celtic, my first phone call was to Mark. It has taken a little while because he was in a job and in fairness, the FA have been brilliant with it all. He is an outstanding coach, it gives me fresh ideas which can be good and I am looking forward to working with him.

“It was a really important decision. The assistant role was key because this year there will just be me and Mark as opposed to the three of us that we had last season and I think I prefer that.

“We share the same philosophy, the way we want to play and he has worked at a lot of very good clubs. We have always kept in touch since we last worked together. He is methodical and excellent with the set-pieces and that is an area that we needed to improve on because we didn’t score enough from them last season.”

Robson was originally brought to Posh by former first-team boss Gary Johnson and stayed when Ferguson returned to the club.

Robson has also coached Norwich City and Aston Villa in the Premier League.